Winter Park Colorado Mountain Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras in the Colorado Rocky Mountains

Looking for something to do in to celebrate Mardi Gras?  Well look no further, there is much to do up here in Winter Park, Colorado and this is the perfect time to head to the hills and get away from the February blues.  The snow is falling and we should have around ten inches of new snow by this coming Monday, Feb 8th, if the forecasts are to be believed.  So come check out the Winter Park Mountain Mardi Gras.

Saturday February13

12:00-5:00pm at the Winter Park Village

High Altitude Style! Come join the party in the Village to celebrate this New Orleans tradition Winter Park-style! This event features bands, street performers, festive decorations, food and plenty of beads to go around!

Music (in Starbucks Plaza)

12:00pm-1:00pm:  Louisiana Clan Dogs
1:20pm-2:20pm:  Aden Harrell & Friends Jazz Quartet
2:40pm-3:40pm:  Otones Brass Band
4:00pm-5:00pm:  Dikki Du & The Zydeco Krewe
Performers (throughout the Village)

12:00pm-5:00pm:  Salida Circus Performers (includes flame throwers, jugglers, trapeze artists, jesters & unicyclists)
12:00pm-5:00pm:  Face-Painting and Caricature Drawings
12:00pm-5:00pm:  Children’s Crafts – masks and crowns
1:00pm-3:00pm:  Giant Puppetry
2:00pm-4:00pm:  Ear2Ear Photobooth

Food (in Starbucks Plaza)

Jambalaya, crawfish, etouffee, gumbo, crepes, bread pudding and beignets provided by Village restaurants

FAT Tuesday February 16th

• 6:30-8:30pm – Mardi Gras Parade at Cooper Creek
Square: Come in costume and participate in Fat Tuesday
(Winter Park style) in the shortest, craziest, coldest
Mardi Gras Parade on Earth!
• 9pm – The Grand County Blues Society presents
Trampled Under Foot w/Samantha Fish at Smokin Moes

All of this to be had while trying to get in all the runs at Winter Park and Mary Jane Resorts.

“Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez”

Ziggy’s Donuts Winter Park, CO

Winter Park Donuts

Looking for some good coffee and donuts in Winter Park.  Well, Ziggy’s donuts has now been open for a month here in Winter Park, CO.  Ziggy is serving up custom made donuts and some superb coffee right in downtown Winter Park.  Located in the Kings Crossing Shopping Center, right off of US Highway 40, Ziggy’s is the place for your doughnut fix.

Ziggy’s offers custom made donuts that come right off the conveyor belt and are custom hand dipped in whatever topping you chose.  There are five or six tables to enjoy your treats or a couple of counter spaces to watch the donuts being made.  The twins above, enjoying the first donuts of their lives, were mesmerized by the doughnut machine and the dipping in the custom toppings.

Ziggy’s also has coffee,  from espresso to cappuccino you can any coffee that you like from Ziggy’s magical Italian coffee machine.  They also have various Polish confections on the shelves for you to enjoy on the slopes up at the resort.

Just stop off on your way to Winter Park Resort and enjoy some fresh coffee and donuts.

Winter Park Rec Center| A Photo Journal

Winter Park, CO Winter Carnival

Winter Park Winter Carnival

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce and Winter Park Resort are putting on a carnival celebration for the 70th anniversary of skiing at Winter Park Resort.  On the January 22nd through January 24th there will be a Winter Carnival celebration at Winter Park Resort in the Town of Winter Park and at Grand Park in Fraser.

The Celebration will include:

Winter Park Resort

• Mary Jane’s Birthday Bash
• Winter Park’s 70th Anniversary Celebration
• 26th Annual Chef’s Cup
• Pancakes, snow sculptures, snow golf, live music

Downtown Winter Park

• Snowshoe Hikes
• PlayZone
• Human Bowling
• Lighted Parade including you and your pet!

Grand Park Saturday January 23, 2010:

Sled Dog races (Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club Inc.):

9am (8-Dog Sled Race)

10:30am (6-Dog Sled Race and 2-Dog Skijor)

12pm (4-Dog Sled Race and 1-Dog Skijor)

Dog Agilities: 10am, 11:30am

Grand County Pet Pals Stomp & Romp: 1:30pm-4pm

Skijoring Clinic: 2-3pm

The Fraser Valley Metropolitan Recreation District is hosting the Grand Park Community Recreation Center Grand Opening: 10am-3pm Offering public tours, mini-exhibits, free coffee, cocoa and cookies

Other activities during the day:

Kids dog sled rides

Silent Auction for Pet Pals

Bon Fire/S’Mores/Hot Chocolate

Retail Vendors

Food Vendors

Grand Park Sunday January 24, 2010:

Dog races (Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club Inc.):

9am (8-Dog Sled Race)

10:30am (6-Dog Sled Race and 2-Dog Skijor)

12pm (4-Dog Sled Race and 1-Dog Skijor)

Awards to follow

Grand Park Community Rec Center

Winter Park/ Fraser Rec Center

The Grand Park Community Rec Center is open and running.  We had a chance to visit the rec center this weekend and facility did not disappoint.  Nice work Y’all at the Fraser Valley Metropolitan Recreation District.  Most private fitness clubs I’ve seen can not match the the Rec Center’s finishes.  The place is a masterpiece!  There is now an escape from the long cold winters up here in Grand County.  A soak in the pool, hot tub or some time in the steam sauna will warm up the bones and get us all back on the the ski slopes very quickly.

The Rec Center has something for everyone but is just about perfect for the kids.  Day care, a water playground and a lazy river will provide hours of healthy entertainment for the young ones.  There are climbing walls, basketball courts and trampolines with a foam ball landing pit that looks just spectacular.  I may be gushing but I still can’t believe we have an asset this nice right here in Winter Park.

Follow the Rec Center happenings on their facebook page and become a member to enjoy their offerings year around.  Winter Park Lodging Company will offer our guests special discounted entry coupons so if you have any interest just ask.

Again nice work on the Grand Park Community Rec Center to all who had a hand in it’s creation!

White Christmas in Winter Park with Santa

Santa in Winter Park, Colorado

Santa will be making an appearance at Hideaway Park in Winter Park, Colorado on December 19th, 2009.  A fun day for the whole family will start at 11AM and end at 3PM.  Santa will be there taking instruction on presents from the kids and there will be carolers to get all in the holiday spirit.  There will be free sledding and hot chocolate.

Come on on out and help decorate the town trees with ornaments.  It should be a fun time for all and the sled hill at Hideaway Park is a blast for the kids.  The four or five times we have been there have been sleds at the hill so it is s totally free outing.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

Fraser Valley Recreation Center Fee Structure Announced

To Open In December

The new Fraser Valley Rec Center just announced the fee structure so we can all get in and enjoy the 20-foot loop slide, spray and play area, lazy river, zero-depth entry pool and four-lane 25-yard lap pool, as well as a whirlpool, sauna and steam room. The center’s other features include a climbing wall, gymnastics center, running-walking track, weights area, dance-aerobic studio, a pool party room and multi-purpose room.   They are set to open in December!

Here are some highlights for our guests:

0-2 years are free (it figures that our twins will turn 2 this October – darn!)

3 – 9 years – $7/day

10 – 17 years and seniors over 60 – $8/day or a 20-day punch card for $128

Adults (18 – 65 years old) – $10/day or 20-day punch card for $160

For full details, go to the Ski Hi Daily News article.